Sevareid, Tharsella Scheller

Tharsella Alvera Rosemary Scheller Sevareid, Tar to all her friends, 85, of Radford, died Friday, August 15, 2008, in her home.

She was born August 21, 1923, in Wisconsin. She was the widow of John W. Sevareid, Col. United States Army Retired.

Surviving are three daughters and their spouses, Ann Sevareid Miller and husband, Rod, Durham, N.C., Susan Sevareid Dickerson and husband, Sam, Blacksburg, and Sally Sevareid and husband, Monty Foster, West Palm Beach, Fla.; a son, John W. Sevareid, Radford; two grandchildren, Samantha Jean Dickerson and Cody John Dickerson; sister and brother-in-law, Deanna and Paul Beaudry, Slinger, Wisconsin.

After graduation from Prentice High School in 1940, Tar attended the Marshfield School of Nursing earning her RN degree in 1945. Soon after, she joined the Army Nurse Corp and served in Germany where she received the “Nurse of the Year” award. After her army discharge, she contracted polio while touring Europe. When Tar recovered, she worked for Delta Airlines as a stewardess. Five years later, in 1952, she was re-called to active duty. She was stationed in Japan and served for thirty months. Japan is where she met and married then Major John W. Sevareid and had her first child.

Tar retired from the army and began life as an army wife following her husband’s military career. Tar especially loved the people and customs of Bangkok, Thailand, where her fifth child was born. In 1964, her husband was transferred to Radford, Virginia as Commander-in-Chief of the Army Ammunition Plant. Shortly after his transfer, he was called to serve in Vietnam.

When Col. Sevareid returned to the states, they decided Radford would be a wonderful place to stay and raise their family. Tar immersed herself in her new community, volunteering for the American Red Cross, school health clinics, St. Albans Psychiatric Hospital, Radford Community Hospital, Boys Home, Meals on Wheels, PEO, the Linus Blanket Project, and Grace Episcopal Church.

Tar had numerous interests including crafts, gardening, bridge, and bird watching. Tar loved her husband, her children, grandchildren, her friends, her church, and her country.

The family would like to thank the staff at UVA’s Nerancy Neuro ICU, Carilion Hospice, and all her wonderful friends for their care, compassion, and support.

Funeral services will be at 4 p.m. Sunday, August 17, 2008, at Grace Episcopal Church, Fourth and Harvey Streets, Radford, with the Rev. Claude McCauley officiating. Interment for family members only will follow the service in the Grace Episcopal Church yard. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church.

DeVilbiss Funeral Home, Radford, is handling arrangements. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Grace Memorial Garden, c/o Grace Episcopal Church, 210 Fourth Street Radford, Va. 24141.